Britain halts trade talks with Israel and summons ambassador for Foreign Office dressing down amid growing fury over aid blockade on Gaza

Britain is halting trade talks with Israel and summoned Tel Aviv’s ambassador to the Foreign Office amid growing anger at the aid blockade on Gaza.

David Lammy told MPs that Tzipi Hotovely was being brought in to be told that ‘the 11-week block on aid to Gaza has been cruel and indefensible’. 

It came after Sir Keir Starmer, along with French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian premier Mark Carney, condemned the Israeli government’s ‘egregious’ actions in Gaza.

They warned PM Benjamin Netanyahu that the UK and allies will take ‘concrete actions’ unless he changes course. 

The Foreign Office has also instigated new sanctions against Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. 

Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy told the Commons: ‘Civilians in Gaza facing starvation, homelessness, trauma, desperate for this war to end, now confront renewed bombardment, new displacement and new suffering, and the remaining hostages kept apart from their loved ones by Hamas for almost 600 days are now at heightened risk from the war around them.

‘Two months ago the ceasefire collapsed. Since then the humanitarian catastrophe has rapidly intensified. 

David Lammy told MPs Tzipi Hotovely would be told by Middle East minister Hamish Falconer that ‘the 11-week block on aid to Gaza has been cruel and indefensible’.

It came after Sir Keir Starmer, along with French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian premier Mark Carney, condemned the Israeli government’s ‘egregious’ actions in Gaza.

Mr Lammy told the Commons: ‘Civilians in Gaza facing starvation, homelessness, trauma, desperate for this war to end.’

‘For 11 weeks Israeli forces have blockaded Gaza, leaving the World Food Programme without any – any – remaining stocks. 

‘Israel has repeatedly struck hospitals, with three more hospitals in northern Gaza ceasing operations this weekend, yet more aid workers and medical workers have been killed.’

He added: ‘We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict. Netanyahu’s government is planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need. 

‘Yesterday, Minister Smotrich even spoke of Israeli forces cleansing Gaza, destroying what’s left of residents, Palestinians being relocated, he said, to third countries.’

MPs from across the House shouted ‘genocide’ as Mr Lammy said: ‘We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.’

In a joint statement, Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Carney said: ‘If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.’

The leaders called on Hamas to release the hostages it took in the ‘heinous attack’ on October 7 2023.

‘We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism,’ the three leaders said.

‘But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.’

Mr Netanyahu hit back, saying: ‘By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.’

He added: ‘The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled and Gaza is demilitarised.

‘No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won’t.

‘This is a war of civilisation over barbarism. Israel will continue to defend itself by just means until total victory is achieved.’

The UN’s humanitarian relief chief Tom Fletcher – a former British diplomat – said nine aid trucks were cleared to enter after Israel’s blockade was lifted, ‘but it is a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed’.

‘Our expectations for today’s crossings are realistic: given ongoing bombardment and acute hunger levels, the risks of looting and insecurity are significant,’ he warned.

Responding to the suspension of trade talks, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said: ‘If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British Government is willing to harm the British economy — that is its own prerogative.’

He said the sanctions in relation to the West Bank were ‘unjustified and regrettable’.

And he added: ‘The British Mandate ended exactly 77 years ago.

‘External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.’